Alignment And High Speed Balancing

[alsamrob]

Just got an estimate from the dealer for an alignment and high speed balance: $390 for the alignment (steering wheel was 10 degrees off) and $190 for high speed balance. Seems a little excessive. Thoughts/experiences?

[rowlands57]

Whatever about the cost of the alignment I can say that whomever does the balance needs to use a Hunter RoadForce machine. I had two shops try to get the balance right with miserable results and the only success came when I found a shop with that Hunter machine.

I think that price for the alignment is too high by about $200 but that's the dealer for you. If you find a shop with the Hunter machine (use the Hunter web-site they have a locator) I suspect they will be in a good position to handle the alignment as well.

Good Luck.

PS - I am in the NY 'upstate' region and used Putnam Tire for my work with good results.

[alsamrob]

Whatever about the cost of the alignment I can say that whomever does the balance needs to use a Hunter RoadForce machine. I had two shops try to get the balance right with miserable results and the only success came when I found a shop with that Hunter machine.

I think that price for the alignment is too high by about $200 but that's the dealer for you. If you find a shop with the Hunter machine (use the Hunter web-site they have a locator) I suspect they will be in a good position to handle the alignment as well.

Good Luck.

PS - I am in the NY 'upstate' region and used Putnam Tire for my work with good results.

Thanks

[alsamrob]

Update: Picked up the car last night. It is worth every penny. There is no more shake or vibration in the car at all. Phenomenal.

[BobbySpeed]

Rowlands- I am in Crtlandt. Putnam Tire is in Cold Spring? What did they charge you per tire for road-force balancing? Where do you get your alignment done, and how much do they charge?

Thanks.

[rowlands57]

Rowlands- I am in Crtlandt. Putnam Tire is in Cold Spring? What did they charge you per tire for road-force balancing? Where do you get your alignment done, and how much do they charge?

Thanks.

The road-force was $20/tire at Putnam Tire, and I had the alignment done at RennSport in Beford Hills. However, based on the experience there I would use Putnam for everything as they had to fix the balancing the RennSport made a complete mess of. They managed to get up to $169 in WIEGHTS alone and the balance was a complete mess. Would not recommend them for anything tire related, not even air pressure check.

Mike is the guy at Putnam Tire and is as easy do deal with as anyone I have met in the repair business. Next time tires are needed for any of my cars that's where I am going.

JR